Big baby
Can I do it? Dr says no!

I'm currently 28 weeks with DS2. DS1 was born via emergency c-section after going in to fetal distress (I was induced and am sure this is why he went in to distress), he was 8 pound 5, which is large for me for my first baby I guess (I'm only about 5 foot 2), but still not at all a humungous baby I wouldn't think!

I've been doing a lot of research and really feel quite strongly about trying for a VBAC with DS2, but when I went to see the OB today (NB, we do shared care so he won't be my OB for the whole pregnancy) he said that DS2 is looking to be big again and he wouldn't even recommend I bother trying a VBAC because it will end in another emergency c-section again.

DS2 is also breach at the moment but OB said if he hasn't turned in the next couple of weeks they won't try to turn him because of his size and risk to my c-section scar (this I think is fair enough), but there's not much I can do to encourage him to turn naturally either.

So I'm not really brimming with positivity at the moment, and I think everyone attempting a VBAC needs to be surrounded by positivity to be confident in their decision.

I'm wondering if any of you have had a similar experience - have you delivered a big bub through VBAC? I don't mind if it ends in emergency c-section if it all goes pear shaped, but to suggest not even trying seems extreme?

My first was a little one (5lb9oz), born by emerg c/s because he went into distress after induction... but that's because he already wasn't doing too well.

#2 was always looking bigger than #1. All my measurements were big, and scan showed he was going to be around 3.5kg.

I did end up trying for VBAC (went into labour 2 days before my scheduled c/s.) I laboured for 9-10 hours, and stodd, rocked, bounced on a fit ball for most of that. I had continuous monitoring, but I spent almost no time sitting or lying on the bed, because it was the least comfortable.

I didn't make progress. He never engaged, I didn't dilate, and we ended in another emerg c/s. He was 8lb, with a 97th centile head!!!

So for me, it didn't work. I haven't successfully been able to birth a baby. His head was huge! However, I DID get satisfaction from those 10 hours of labour, and from trying. I don't have any 'what ifs.' I'm glad I got to give it a try, and that baby and I were well monitored and looked after and never at risk.

I followed my Dr's advice, but I'm glad I could give it a try, and an emerg c/s wasn't the end of the world. Actually, we think it was good for my baby that he got squeezed a bit, as he had great APGARs and did really well.

yes, YES!you CAN do it!! omg i could have written this myself. i went through this 5 months ago. dd was right on 8 pounds, a week late, emergency c-section after 26 hours of natural labour ( failure to progress due to incompetent staff).. you know what/ i'll brb am going to try pasting my vbac success story for you.watch this space...

* ok so i can't find it, gah! anyway, so its was 3 years in between dd and ds, i had put on less weight with ds and was healthier, and feeling fantasticc.i wanted so badly to have a vbac and while i had my doubts, i knew in myself i could do it. most of the staff at the hosp i went to for ds ( also did shared care) were fantastic, really good, positive etc.

there was one ob there who i saw a couple of times who was A COW pure and simple. ds was estimated to be close to 9 pounds and she tried to bully me into going an elective cs. i stood my ground and on the day, i was surrounded by such positive people, i really do think this made a huge difference. i made sure i was active and upright from the start, i was in various different positions throughout (despite having continuous monitoring, you do NOT have to be laying down the whole time). i had i think it was 5 hours of established labour and then i did it!if i can you can, op, coz things dont come easily to me. i did end up with 4th degree tearing BUT i think this is because i was on birthing stool in the end, (typically not good for tearing, i found out later)and by that stage i got a bit impatient and really gave it my all. if i had been a little more patient, and gone back to all fours, i dont think i would've torn. all fours is the best way to deliver, the gentlest, because there's less gravity bearing down on your pink bits. op, it was the greatest, proudest, most satisfying feeling of fulfillment when ds came out and i knew i had succeeded. still makes me tear up at the thought!

i went into the decision to have a vbac with the determination to make it work and the belief in myself, and also the option of, well i can still have emergency ceasar if i need to, but there's no harm in trying. YOU CAN DO IT!

AND, there are things you can do to encourage bub to move.ds wasnt breech but looked like he was going to go posterior. i know its a bit different but it might help. i was told ( and did) to sit on a fitball, or sit on a backwards facing shair to tilt your pelvis forward. resist the temptation to sit back in a recliner or lounge as this will only encourage bub to stay backwards. you can also get on all fours to do gentle rocking exercises, and this is also a good thing to do if you want to try it on d-day.( i found it really took the weight off the bump.)

also i got a chiro adjustment the day before due date ( waters had already broken! ) and i think that helped too, it just gives your body a better chance of getting bub in the right position in birth canal, or something.

anyway i know i've been blabbering on but i really hope you stick to your guns op, coz i really do think it's worth it. dont just give up without a fight. at least if you try then at least you've tried, eh? all the best, please post an update and just relax and stay positive, determined and focused. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!Oh! btw! ds was bang on 9 pounds ( also with a 97th percentile head,lol!)and i am 5'2. so i am proof.

One thing does stand out from your post - the doctor mentioning the baby turning in the next 2 weeks.

Babies can turn VERY late. A friend of mine was about to undergo manipulation to turn her boy at 36 weeks when he suddenly took a great big turn head down and stayed put for the next four weeks. 28 weeks is way too early to worry about breech, especially for a second baby.

OB is also wrong is saying there is nothing you can do to encourage your baby to turn. There are many, many methods that have proven successful for a lot of women, I think there is even a thread dedicated to it somewhere here on EB.

Another friend of mine delivered a big baby on her first go (around the same weight as yours) but ended up with severe tearing. The decision was made to perform a CS with her next baby less than 12 months later. That baby was over 9 pound.

How has your OB determined your current baby is big? Simply by measuring your belly? This can be inaccurate, especially for a second one. Or by ultrasound? This can also be inaccurate, many members here will testify to that.

... Big baby, previous C/s, breech presentation... Your OB is likely way out of his comfort zone. His negativity is not about you, it is about him!! Surround yourself with positive and supportive care providers, practice optimal fetal positioning to encourage a good position, be confident that you can birth your baby if left to labour undisturbed... You absolutely CAN!!!!

My Ds was a relatively large first baby delivered by c section. I wanted to try pushing which I did but could not do it. I wish I had listened at the time. However, with DD my ob said there was no way anyone could really predict whether you could birth a large baby or not until it happens. He was fine to let me try. Turns out DD was smaller anyway and came out fine. I had a friend deliver a 4.5 kg baby in about 40 mins and another one who' ob was sating how large her baby was and it came out 2.8 kg. They can't know. With regards to the turning thing, I can't comment.

Just to add to all those posters saying "you can do it" be careful about making this about the op. she may not be able to do it. You don't know her medical history and are just a clueless as her ob in relation to whether the baby will come out with little or any horrible damage. There is no reason given here why you can't try op, however, all pp's can offer you are our own stories where we did it and that came out ok. I would still listen to medical advice all through the labour and work with your team, who are there for the good of yourself and your baby.

DS3 was breech up until a few days before my 36 wk ultrasound to check where his head was. I did the leaning off the lounge thing and tried to spend as much of my time playing with the kids on all fours.

28 wks is (in my opinion) way too early to be making decisions about a breech baby. I was given until 36 wks and then given the option to turn which I didn't end up needing but i'd be pushing up until the last minute not to have a c section booked in. I'd even be asking for an ultrasound the day before you are booked in for a c section or the morning of the confirm where bub is laying.

Echoing the thoughts of the previous posters.. Dd was 3.8kg and born via emer csec. Due to feral distress. Lucky for me my hospital was fully supportive of a VBAC and when DS failed to progress in second stage due to head size the used forceps. So it was an assisted VBAC . He was 4.25kg. I think a lot of the advice given is great lol esp Anne's ( her birth story is inspiring! )

Thank you so much for your replies, your experiences are amazing inspiration for me.

In general, I do think my hospital is supportive of VBACs (definitely the midwives), maybe just not so much the OB I saw the other week, and hopefully I won't be seeing him again! You're so right when you say it was all just a bit too far out of his comfort zone.

I'm absolutely still going to try for a VBAC, if it ends in another c-section then so be it, at least I will have let my body go in to labour naturally and for me that's the main thing.

Amazingly, I went to see my acupuncturist just before xmas and he suggested we try moxibustion to start loosening the ligaments to encourage baby to spin - and he did!! After the first go! I don't doubt he'll continue to do somersaults for the next few weeks, but the main thing is that I now know the OB is a bit of a fool and there is absolutely still enough room for my baby to spin around if he wants to.

I've never had a cs or vbac but I just wanted to say its still really early on at 28 weeks, there is still plenty of time for the baby to turn. My ob who is very pro letting nature take its course unless there are other medical issues would normally wait till 36 odd weeks before attempting to turn the baby. My ds1 was posterior until about 4 days before his birth. I also had quite large babies for my size. I'm only 5'2. They thought ds1 would be 4kg plus and he turned out a reasonable 3.4kgs, Ds2 was 3.65kgs and that was actually an easier birth, no time for any pain relief....totally natural. Recovery was better too, no stitches...

Keep an open mind hopefully circumstances will be on your side and you'll manage it

"Hey, come here a second," my mum said as she replaced the book in my hands with a wooden spoon covered in what I prayed was red sauce. Together, we walked into the kitchen and hovered over the skillet like we were peering into a crystal ball. Looking into my future, I saw me eating a lot of take away.